How long to beat Sekiro? Story, extras and 100% times

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice takes about 22 hours to beat, according to players on IGDB. With optional areas and minibosses, plan on around 41.5 hours, and about 53 to complete everything. But more than in almost any other game, your time depends on your skill: one boss can take you ten minutes or a whole evening.

Main story only: about 22 hours

Released in 2019 by FromSoftware, Sekiro is set in a reimagined Sengoku-era Japan. You play Wolf, a shinobi with a prosthetic arm on a mission to rescue his kidnapped young lord. Heading straight for the end, you'll get there in about twenty hours, but most of that time will go into learning the big boss fights.

With side content: about 41.5 hours

The land of Ashina hides plenty of optional areas, minibosses and prosthetic tools to find. Exploring makes you stronger, thanks to prayer beads that raise your health and posture. Taking time to look around often makes the main bosses more manageable. It's the most balanced way to play.

100% completion: about 53 hours

Sekiro has several endings, and to see them all you have to restart in New Game Plus, where enemies hit harder. You also need every tool, every skill and every boss and miniboss down. So 100% is mostly about replaying the game a few times, knowing its traps much better.

How many evenings to plan

At 2 hours a night, the story alone is about 11 evenings. With side content, count roughly 21 evenings, and around 26 to 27 evenings for 100%. Tip: when a boss blocks you, stop and come back the next day. With fresh eyes, attack patterns often look much clearer.

Tips to go faster

Deflect, don't run: Sekiro rewards staying close. Every good deflect fills your enemy's posture bar, and when it's full, you can land a deathblow. Learn the Mikiri Counter early to punish thrusts. Use stealth to take enemies out before fights. And match your tool to the boss, firecrackers are brutal against beasts.

Verdict

Sekiro looks short on paper, about 22 hours, but it's dense and demanding. Don't judge it by its hours: every win counts double. To compare, see how long to beat Elden Ring or Dark Souls 3, and our best soulslikes.

FAQ

How long is the Sekiro story?

According to players on IGDB, the main story of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice lasts about 22 hours. That's an average: a player used to FromSoftware games will go faster, while a newcomer can spend a lot more time on certain bosses.

How long does it take to 100% Sekiro?

Plan on about 53 hours to finish Sekiro at 100%, according to players on IGDB. You need to see every ending, which takes several New Game Plus runs, and find every tool, skill and boss. The game gets much quicker to replay once you've mastered it.

Is Sekiro harder than Dark Souls?

For many players, yes, especially at first. Sekiro has no co-op, no summons and no builds to lean on: everything comes down to how well you deflect. Once the system clicks, though, the game becomes very fluid and incredibly rewarding.